Download PDF of this full issue: v40n2.pdf (14.6 MB)

Why We Do What We Do

By Steve Crandall

Every year, right around the Fourth of July, our California Central Coast VVAW Chapter does two Ventura County street fairs, back to back venues that can be a push for us "old" veterans. Sometimes we barely break even. Every year we ask one another, "Why do we do it?"

We set up a booth with our chapter banner, "Honor the Warriors, Not the War" across the back, stock it with issues of The Veteran, VVAW hats, shirts and pins and a pile of the new round "Honor the Warriors, Not the War" stickers. Agent Orange information sheets join Depleted Uranium and TBI - special hazards of today's wars, PTSD and the rising toll of suicide. A brochure rack holds fliers from the various Vets service groups.

Hand-lettered updates on the obstacles returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan must overcome to re-enter a society that barely noticed their absence and doesn't understand what they have been through attract readers who engage us to learn more.

We raise an American flag at the corner of our booth, a funeral flag that belongs to Jack, Treasurer and Vietnam Navy veteran. Jack's father was a WWII veteran. A large map of Vietnam with pins of different colors for veterans of different services mark where they served in country. When people come by and stop, sometimes at a distance, and quietly look at the map for a while, we ask if by chance they were in Vietnam. As a result, we hear many stories as the pin is placed. We come closer together when it is realized that we have this era of life in common.

Carl, a former Seabee and chapter member takes his station at the front table to pass out our VVAW peace stickers. Shortly after returning home from his second tour in Vietnam, Carl suffered a service connected disability and has to work from his wheelchair. He always keeps an upbeat presentation that matches his white beard and sparkling blue eyes. The peace stickers are a great hit with the youngsters and many adults, passing out stickers he reminds everyone to have a wonderful day.

Most of our interesting conversations are with Vietnam vets. But a gentleman from Hungary said he had been there with us, but on the other side working for NVA intelligence. We had conversations with Iraq and Afghanistan vets and the families of kids who are over there for their fifth or sixth tour. Liberal Ventura is the kindest to us. We typically take in more donations and product sales at the one-day 4th of July event than we do at the two-day event in right-wing dominated Camarillo where we have to put up with the occasional stony stares and the even rarer Tea Party crazies. We didn't expect to get much support or interest this year since the media put the war on the back burner as well as the bad economy being a burden for many folks. But we knew no matter how it turned out that we would be there educating the public about veteran's needs and the true cost of war. This is what we do and having the opportunity to turn an ear or open up a mind to think about the prospects of peace instead of war is why we do it.

Steve Crandall is a Vietnam Veteran and the President of the California Central Coast Chapter of VVAW.